Movie Review - Cinderella directed by Kenneth Branagh

It is a fairy tale. Fairy tales have always held an appeal to me and this most recent remake lived up to my expectations. There were tender scenes as parents passed away, giving words of comfort and strength to their children. There were happy family times, that did unfortunately change to very unhappy times for Cinderella.  Her name, originally Ella, was mockingly changed to Cinderella by her wickedly unkind stepsisters. I felt that this retelling of Cinderella showed more developing inner strength of the Cinderella character as she grieved her parents, and struggled finding her way in the life she was given.

Oh, and the magic performed by the fairy godmother was full of fun. A pumpkin into a grand carriage, mice into white horses, lizards into foot men and a goose into the carriage master - who was terrified to drive the horses!  And of course Cinderella’s coiffure, marvelous dress and her glass slippers. The ball was full of royal finery and dancing. It all dissolved again into laughter as the magic was undone at the last stroke of midnight.

This was not a piece of fluff that told little girls to look for Prince Charmings to save them. It was a well told story and the five young (sort of) ‘girls’ that went to see it today came away with smiles and damp tissues.

“Have courage, be kind.”

~  the movie Cinderella, 2015

Based on a European fairy tale

Directed by Kenneth Branagh

Partial Cast of Characters
Lily James - Cinderella
Richard Madden - Prince Charming
Cate Blanchett - Stepmother
Sophie McShera - Drizella
Holliday Grainger - Anastasia
Helena Bonham Carter - Fairy Godmother